Mellidara Paiyong pilots coffee plantation experiment

NAMCHI, 22 June: An orientation programme on coffee plantation was organised for small farmers of Mellidara Paiyong on 20 June. The coffee plantation programme is being taken up as a pilot project under MGNREGA in convergence with Horticulture & Cash Crop Department.

The planting materials/ saplings are being provided by the Horticulture Department and the labour component is funded under MGNREGA. During the programme, the ADC (Dev) Namchi, Additional Director Horticulture, Namchi, Joint Director [Fruits], GVA Sumbuk and Panchayat President and Panchayat Secretary were present.

Also present were Guru T Ladakhi [the CEO & Director of the Ladakhi Group of Companies] and Llewellyn A Tripp [the Technical Coffee Advisor].

In her address, the ADC Dev informed that coffee plantation is being taken up on a pilot basis which will be later taken up at other areas also.

Initially, each farmer will be given 200 saplings and technical support. The pits are now being dug and the plants will be planted by the first week of July.

This programme will be receiving special support and consultancy from the Ladakhi Group of Companies. Mr Ladakhi in his address assured to give all consultancy support to the farmers and also provide marketing linkage.

He assured the farmers that he will buy back the produce from the farmers at a competitive rate. An agreement will also be drawn to this effect, he added.

Further, Mr Tripp who has an experience of 40 years in growing coffee in different parts of the world and who is currently working as a Technical Coffee Advisor for Ladakhi Group of Companies explained that Coffee can be grown in the peripherals of the field without engaging the main land which is being used for cropping by the farmers who have small land holdings and have to depend on these fields for their daily income and food.

He said that coffee can be harvested after two years of cropping and doesn’t require much labour. He will guide the farmers on the planting process, its maintenance and the process of harvesting.